Tater Tots are the most underrated food of all time. They’re crispy on the outside and soft in your mouth, making them a perfect treat for any occasion: whether you just want to satisfy that late-night craving or need an appetizer for dinner with friends. What’s more, they can be found at grocery stores everywhere!
Tater Tots were first introduced as “potato croquettes” by frozen French fry maker Ore-Ida during World War II because potatoes became scarce due to rationing issues; this was also when people began deep-frying their foods instead of baking them since it takes less oil than boiling water which is why these taters have such a uniquely crunchy exterior (plus who doesn’t love fried anything).
Though I like using air fryers because of their inherently lower-calorie cooking method, I do like to get a crispy, golden brown tater tot so to help increase the caramelization factor we are going to spray the tater tots lightly with some cooking oil. Since I’ve begun using my air fryer more frequently I find keeping a canola oil spray bottle has been a real-time saver for me, but a can of pan spray or spray oil will work just fine.
Why air-fried tator tots are best?
Air fryer tots are the perfect side dish for any meal. They’re great with a burger or milkshake too!
Air frying is hands-off and easy because there’s no hot oil, so you don’t have to worry about getting messy in your kitchen.
Just shake halfway through cooking time – it’ll be hard not having these air-fried tater tot recipes all month long!
Ingredients:
- Tator Tots all you need is 16 oz bag
- Salt to taste
- Oil spray use olive or avocado oil
Procedure:
When cooking with an air fryer, it’s important to keep in mind that you may need to reduce the timing by a few minutes if your appliance is preheated or if there are multiple batches.
Cooking food using an air fryer can often require adjusting the timer from what would be perfect for frying as well as other methods, so make sure during preparation to consider this.
You can spruce up your air fryer with a few simple steps.
- First, spray the tater tots and then place them on an even layer in the basket of your machine.
- Then you’ll want to season it! Next, simply set the temperature at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-12 minutes or until they reach that perfect crispness we all crave!
- In order for this recipe to work out perfectly every time, make sure not only to have everything prepared beforehand but also stir occasionally during the cooking process so nothing burns onto each other.
Time to serve:
Air Fryer Tots are best served as soon as they’re done. They have the same crispy outside and fluffy potato inside that you would find at any restaurant but in your own home!
Air fryers give perfect tater tots every time with a much smaller amount of oil than other methods.
Spices:
Add a bit of spice to your dish with some extra flavor. Experiment around and find the perfect balance for you by adding different spices like chili powder, garlic or onion powders, cajun seasoning, or other seasonings that work well in Mexican dishes!
Why air fryer instead of having oven?
The oven has to be preheated before cooking, which adds an extra 10 minutes or so of preparation.
The air fryer does need to be shaken during the cooking process and will require closer scrutiny near the end for it could potentially burn foods if not monitored closely enough.
The oven can hold more potatoes at once than a standard size air fryer would typically cook in one go; however, this may pose as another burden on time if you are preparing other meals simultaneously.
Air-fried potato snacks take less time overall when compared with using your conventional stovetop method – even without taking into account that there is also prep work involved beforehand!
Both methods have their drawbacks: use requires a clean-up afterward regardless (potatoes still must get peeled) while energy.
Use as an appetizer:
Potatoes are an essential ingredient for any meal (serve as appetizer or side dish).
They’re kid-friendly and loved by adults, so it’s always a good idea to have them on hand.
Potatoes can be served with fish sandwiches, baked fish (breaded or not), hotdogs, hamburgers, paninis – you name it!
Not only that but potatoes also go great in salads such as chicken caesar salad and taco salads.
And if all else fails; just put ketchup on top because they taste amazing either way 🙂
Conclusion:
When you’re craving a snack, tater tots are the perfect treat for any age. While they taste great on their own, there’s nothing stopping anyone from adding toppings and sauces! My favorite is pairing crispy tots with buffalo sauce and ranch dressing – it satisfies my cravings like no other combination of flavors can!
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